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UK, Germany shut missions in Saudi
LONDON, England (CNN) -- British and German officials said they would close their embassies in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday following last week's suicide bombings in the city that killed 25 people and nine bombers. "We have received credible information that further terrorist attacks against unspecified targets in Saudi Arabia are being planned and may take place imminently," a UK Foreign Office spokeswoman said. Germany's Foreign Ministry said it was closing the consular section of its embassy and another mission in Saudi Arabia until the end of the week, citing security concerns. The action came after the United States said it was closing its embassy there and two consulates in Jeddah and Dhahran because of threats of "imminent" terrorist strikes. (Full story) The British Foreign Office said its embassy in Riyadh, the British consulate in Jeddah and the trade office in Khobar would close to the public on Wednesday. It said it expected the offices would reopen May 24. "In light of the threat, British diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia will close to the public on Wednesday, May 21. This will be kept under review and plans are to reopen to the public on Sunday, May 24," the spokeswoman added. The German embassy in Riyadh and another mission in Jeddah will be closed to the public until Friday, a German foreign ministry spokesman told The Associated Press. He did not elaborate. Last week, Britain advised its citizens not to travel to Saudi Arabia unless absolutely necessary. In a statement posted on its Web site, the Foreign Office said there remained a "high threat" of further strikes and warned of the possibility of chemical and biological attacks. Suicide attacks on three residential compounds on the outskirts of Riyadh on May 12 claimed the lives of 34 people, including nine bombers and two Britons. The suspected al Qaeda attackers, who struck with triple car bombings on mostly expatriate housing, were planning a much bigger operation, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, Saudi ambassador to the United States, said Monday. It is believed that some of those who carried out the bombings survived and fled, and that the suspected planners of the attacks are believed to still be in Saudi Arabia. Speaking to reporters in Riyadh Monday, the prince referred to electronic "chatter," or signals from various sources that intelligence officials listen to regularly. The chatter strongly suggests that something -- it is not clear what -- might be in the works, analysts said. Meanwhile, European ministers were warning that dormant Islamic terrorist cells could strike at any time. (Full story) Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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